As I have said before, it is sad when a game is better than the movie it is based on. Needless to say, that Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues is better than the core story that it is based on, the story in question being that of 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I went into this game with much trepidation. The reason being that Traveler’s Tales has gotten away with the same thing too many times now with their repetition of in their Lego titles, with the possible exception of Lego Rock Band. I enjoyed it with the Lego Star Wars game and I loved it with Lego Indy 1. Then came Lego Batman which, yes, was a rehash of the same controls and game play but was able to incorporate its own original story to the proceedings, which was the saving grace to that game. Lego Indy 2 however, attempts to make a game out of an already paper thin plot that was in the fourth Indiana Jones movie.
Don’t get me wrong, I am one of the biggest Indiana Jones fans out there but Lego Indy 2 feels like we have already covered this ground.
The Good: The graphics as usual are really nice. The game play is really easy to learn and the levels are fun to look at. There are plenty or neat little surprises to find and out of all of them, flying a fighter jet is a really nice surprise. The music is good as it is the score by John Williams for the most part. The levels for Crystal Skull are fun and the humor that is a signature in the Lego games is, as always excellent. The level builder is interesting to say the least.
The Bad: Repetition is not a good thing and unfortunately this is the games’ big weakness. Did we really need to retread what had already been brilliantly handled in the first Lego Indy game? I get that one movie was not enough to make a game out of but honestly, something more original than revisiting the first three movies could have been done. It all feels too much like every other game in the Lego series. No new ground is covered here in terms of something new and challenging game play and unfortunately, that’s a huge shortcoming of this game.
I don’t blame Lucasarts. Traveler’s Tales is the one that should be taking the blame and while I am eagerly anticipating Lego Harry Potter, I fear that it too will be the same in regards to the puzzles and the game play and that kind of novelty can only last so long before things begin to stagnate and unfortunately these Lego games are starting to get a little stale.

Final Verdict (Out of 10): 6

Popularity: 8% [?]

PopCap Games brings us the latest craze of pestilence and plague comes in the form of brain-munching zombies. This time, it’s not up to you and your trusty twelve-gauge to stop them – you’ve enlisted the zombies’ mortal enemy to defend your home. Garden Plants!!! You’d better hope you have a green thumb if you’re going to make it through this zombie apocalypse… Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 15% [?]

Fallout 3 is in it’s own right a fantastic game. Highly addicting and fun to play, seeing the little character nuances that you can bring out of your hero, whoever that may be. The game is epic in it’s own right. As I was reaching the end of the main story, I found myself wanting more. This certainly could not be it for the Capital Wasteland could it? Well, imagine my surprise when I realized that XBOX Live has several bits of downloadable content that not only enhance your character with incredible weapons, but take you to new locales and even have you fight new baddies.

That said, I would like to say that Mothership Zeta was at least a little more interesting. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 12% [?]

When I fired up Dark Void I had no real notion of what the game was about. I knew there was flying and that the game was a cover-based shooter. With the birth of my son in December, I was glad of an excuse to really sit down and play through a game. The list of unfinished games for both 360 and PC is growing ever so steadily.

But I digress – Dark Void, developed by Airtight Games and published by the good people at Capcom is an experience that has a distinct feel. And that feel is unfinished.Riddled with small annoyances and loose controls, and a story that has more holes than Star Wars (I say that with love), I would have loved to see this game in 6 months or more when it would have been finished. With no singular direction, the game suffers but still manages to pull off a passable 8-10 hour single player experience that has some satisfying moments. However, with a distinct lack of multiplayer

Read on to know the whole story… Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 22% [?]

X-Men Origins: Wolverine was one of the many box office hits from last summer that was an ultimately hollow movie, deviod of any nuance, a good plot, and, with the exception of Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber, just generally awful acting.  So how is the video game based on the movie?

I am quite pleased to say that the game is way better than the movie.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition is easily the best Wolverine video game ever made.  This game has everything you want out of a game starring our favorite bezerker raging mutant.  You follow the events from the movie with additional material from RAVEN, linking specific events from the film seamlessly to an overarching storyline that involves several flashbacks to Africa, as well as a visit to Project Wideawake, which for your non comic geeks, is the project that unleashed these three story tall robots that hunt mutants on the X-Men.  You play as Wolverine, as you hack, stab, maim, slash, and kill anything and everything in your path. I think it’s safe to say that  this is by far the goriest game that has come out with an X-men character.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a good thing.   A really good thing.

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Popularity: 12% [?]

In this jam-packed holiday release season there are some obvious next-gen titles that are must-haves: Modern Warfare 2, Brutal Legend, Dragon Age: Origins, Assassin’s Creed 2.  Historically, hand-held ports released simultaneously with their console-cousins have been sad attempts to convert on the huge numbers of gamers that own a DS. Marketing meetings had people applying what would seem to be sound logic, citing the number of DS’s is circulation and saying they need to capitalize on their big-name title. The name alone should guarantee at least moderate sales numbers and justify its development.

These decisions had to have been made without the slightest consideration if, in any competent way, it can be transferred to the handheld medium. Then, the developer is given half of the regular dev cycle to crank it out. Sadness ensues, and poor reviews follow.

Assassin’s Creed 2: Discovery, however does its best to break this stereotype. With quick action, varied kill methods, and challenging level design the game brings some entertaining action to quickly maturing DS. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the fun mechanics in the game, allowing me to relish in some of the more badass moments of Assassin’s creed while still feeling a Mario-esque connection to the gameplay.

Read on for more… Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 48% [?]

As someone who once hosted a Star Wars themed podcast, I am predisposed to give SW licensed products a chance. I mean look how great Republic Commando was – a diamond in the rough of bad Star Wars games. Even The Force Unleashed was a lot of fun, if a little frustrating at times. I am a big fan of the new Clone Wars cartoon, as well. They have taken a lot of characters and added meaning to their existence in a good way.

Unfortunately, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes is not a gem, but more coal in our Christmas stocking this year. I can’t help but think that Krome was not given enough time to finish the project, or possibly set their sights too high for this venture.

Republic Heroes, other than having far too long of a name, places you in the roles of big name Jedi’s and clone troopers and expects that to make up for infuriatingly erratic controls, horrible level design, and possibly the worst AI since… well, ever.

Read on for more…

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Popularity: 29% [?]

As of Friday (11/20), almost all of the features of first time Publisher and Developer Riot Games, the original DotA creators, are available and live, and I can finally give you the 4-1-1 on what Riot has been up to. They have taken their concept of playing the pivotal role in a battle to new heights and put their money where their mouth is with League of Legends. Oh, and did I mention – they’re giving it away for free. A risky move to take, when some developers and publishers try to bank off of licensed names to catch the consumer unaware for a quick buck this holiday season.

Riot is sure you’ll like the game, and with good reason. For those of you unaware, there are international competitions for the now legendary Defence of the Ancients, a full Warcraft II conversion mod. If you haven’t played DotA, now there is little reason to bother other than nostalgia. Riot has put together, in my opinion, the best free game to be released in 2009.

I was only recently acquainted with Defence of the Ancients, or DotA (pronounced doh-tuh). Being only moderately skilled in RTS games, they are not often on my list of games that I must buy. Outside of Blizzard’s `Crafts (Star and War) and the relentless Command and Conquer entries that feature a story, the rinse and repeat nature of RTS games don’t really grab and hold me for long periods of time. You build a base and kill the enemy in increasingly difficult situations. While challenging, its not the most refreshing of gameplay.

Apparently Riot was thinking the same thing.

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Popularity: 100% [?]

Star Wars Battlefront I and II were epic creations, meant to be fast paced and played with friends. You had many classes that tailored to many different play styles. Earning the right to pick a Jedi as your class showed a strong ability to play the game well. You played against your friends and enjoyed epic battles on what seemed a grand scale. They weren’t the prettiest game you’ve ever played, but they were fun.

As fans, we’ve waited for the next iteration of Star Wars Battlefront for over 4 years now. We were all crestfallen when we heard Free Radical had been taken off the project, and even more bummed when we saw the footage of the game that could have been.

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron is, unfortunately, not the game we’ve been waiting for. Before you go jumping in thinking this is going to be the what the Sith ordered to satisfy your Battlefront craving, there are a few things you will want to know… Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 14% [?]

Not since Marvel Ultimate Alliance have I truly enjoyed a comic licensed game. Then came Batman: Arkham Asylum.

And all is good.

The one-man show that is B:AA absolutely reeks with authenticity. From Kevin Conroy as Batman to Mark Hamil as Joker to Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn I was literally thrown back to after-school cartoons where I literally raced home to watch Batman: The Animated Series. I am a bit behind the times only just finishing it, but, being one of my favorite games of 2009, it was worth the wait.

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Popularity: 15% [?]